PRADEEP NANDRAJOG, J.

1. A sea-link which would serve as an extension of the existing Bandra Worli sea-link, extending the same from Bandra to Versova, having length of 9.6 km. has been approved to be constructed.

2. On 26 February 2019 the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) accorded approval to establish a casting yard at Juhu Koliwada after the same had been accorded CRZ approval by the Ministry of Environment. Spread-over 5 Hectares on the beach, possession of 78,392.12 Sq. Mtr. was handed over by the District Collector to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. The Minutes of the meeting dated 26 February 2019 of MCZMA lists the activities permitted at the casting yard. The same are: (i) Site office; (ii) Labour rest room; (iii) RMC Plant and QC lab; (iv) Reinforcement fabrication yard; (v) Epoxy coating area; (vi) Segment stacking yard; (vii) Temporary Jetty for feeding the material and segments; and (viii) Diesel dispensing tank.

3. The minutes record that the land is located in CRZI(i) and CRZ-(II), but subsequently, the same minutes record that activities permitted are restricted to CRZ-II area.

4. The writ petition, filed in public interest, questions the yard being established notwithstanding it being recorded in the permission as also the letter allotting the land to the respondent no.1 that the yard is a temporary yard.

5. Notwithstanding the prolix pleadings in the writ petition, at the hearing held on 22 and 23 April 2019, the scope was restricted to the CRZ-II areas as the permission is granted by the MCZMA on that basis.

6. The crux of the arguments of the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner was that CRZ Notification dated 6 January 2011, as amended from time to time, lays emphasis on conservation and supervision of coastal stretches and restrictions, constructions, operations and processes in CRZ-II. Regulation 3 of the CRZ Regulation lists prohibited activities enumerated in clause (i) to clause (xiv) thereof. Clause (iv) prohibits land reclamation except when required for purposes set out in paragraphs (a) to (d) to clause (iv). Clause (xi) of Regulation 3 prohibits construction activities in CRZ-I except those specified in Regulation 8. The said Regulation stipulates norms for regulating permissible activities under Notification and qua CRZ-II permits building to be permitted only on the landward side of the existing roads or landward side of the existing structures. It was urged that the word 'building' must take colour from the word 'to construct'.

7. The response was that paragraph (iv) of Regulation 3 permits land reclamation except for purposes as per the paragraphs (a) to (d) thereof and paragraph (a) permits reclamation required for setting up sea-links and for other facilities that are essential for activities permissible under the Notification. It was urged by the respondents that the word 'building' in the Notification, not being defined, must be given its natural meaning i.e. cement brick structures permanently erected to be used for storage purposes or dwelling units.

8. In light of the rival contentions we proceed our journey by extracting the relevant portions of the CRZ Notification -2011 as amended from time to time.

9. The preamble to the Notification, inter alia, reads as under:

"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government, with a view to ensure livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities, living in the coastal areas, to conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area and to promote development through sustainable manner based on scientific principles taking into account the dangers of natural hazards in the coastal areas, sea level rise due to global warming, does hereby, declare the coastal stretches of the country and the water area upto